Heavy metals in soils and wheat plants in the area of influence of a building materials enterprise

Abstract

Studies of sod-podzolic soils of forest and agricultural lands in the zone of impact of the enterprise for the production of building materials have shown that gas and dust emissions significantly affect the content of heavy metals in soils.

The assessment of the content of gross forms of heavy metals in sod-podzolic soils of forest and agricultural lands adjacent to the territory of JSC «Krasnoselskstroymaterialy» showed widespread soil contamination with cadmium, arsenic and zinc. Soil contamination of forest and agricultural lands with lead is fragmentary. The highest occurrence of samples with an excess of hygienic standards for soils of forest lands was established for gross forms of zinc, and for soils of agricultural lands - for gross forms of cadmium and arsenic.

The assessment of mobile forms of metals revealed soil contamination mainly with zinc and lead. Soil contamination with cadmium is insignificant and is fragmentary. It should be noted that the sod-podzolic soils of agricultural lands in the north-eastern direction from the enterprise are characterized by a high level of contamination with mobile forms of zinc and lead.

The studies did not reveal an excess of the maximum permissible safe levels of cadmium and lead content in wheat grain and straw, however, the maximum concentrations of these elements in plants of this crop were on average 25-60 % higher in some areas compared to those in control areas, which indicates the presence of local zones in which there is an increased accumulation of heavy metals in agricultural plants. In this regard, it is necessary to organize monitoring of the quality of crop production for the content of heavy metals in the zone of influence of JSC «Krasnoselskstroymaterialy».